City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Nashville and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Nashville and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 236 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Nashville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Cape Coral is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Cape Coral has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Cape Coral are 722 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $272 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $733 (1%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 46 in Cape Coral, down 236 points (84%).
The move
Cape Coral and Nashville are 722 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $272 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $77,371 in Nashville, down $733 (1%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 282 in Nashville, up 236 points (513%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cape Coral, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Nashville rent is 15% cheaper than Cape Coral
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Nashville is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,264, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Nashville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Cape Coral.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 1% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Cape Coral (about $733 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
84% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 84% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% lower in Cape Coral. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Cape Coral is the easier city. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Cape Coral sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 3% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Nashville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Nashville
Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Nashville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($78,104), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Cape Coral is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 84% lower than Nashville (46 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Nashville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (28/100 safety vs 84/100 in Cape Coral). That 56-point spread matters more than the $272 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $77,371), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 73°F in Cape Coral.
Pick Cape Coral when you want the stronger safety signal (84/100). Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a Nashville ZIP you trust at $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Cape Coral, plus other cities in TN and FL.
